The Novoaidar district hospital and outpatient clinic in the aftermath of shelling by the Ukrainian forces in the eastern Lugansk region (Alexander Reka/TASS)

The Ukrainian troops have hit a hospital in the Lugansk People's Republic's (LPR) Novoaidar using the US-made multiple rocket launcher system HIMARS, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

"On January 28, in the LPR's town of Novoaidar at about 7.30 a.m. local time [05:30 GMT], the Ukrainian armed forces deliberately hit the hospital building with multiple rocket launchers of the HIMARS system manufactured by the United States," the ministry said.

The strike killed 14 people and wounded 24 others, including the hospital's staff, the ministry added.

‼️⚡️ 14 civilians KILLED and 24 injured by deliberate Ukrainian army strike on HOSPITAL this morning in Novoaydar, Lugansk Republic (ex-Ukraine) using US-supplied HIMARS rocket launcher systems – Russian Defense Ministry.
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— J. Malkova🇷🇺♥️ (@CanadianKitty1) January 28, 2023

A week ago, Kiev was scrambling to relocate its reserve troops to a frontline near Zaporzhye to attack Russian troops after the latter disrupted a Ukrainian supply line, said Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Zaporozhye regional administration's main council.

The official revealed that the Russian military had taken full control of the Kamianske-Orikhiv highway, which served as a key channel in the transfer of Ukrainian troops, weapons, and munition.

According to Rogov, the Ukrainian armed forces were facing a shortage of artillery munitions due to disrupted logistic chains and weapons depots eliminated by the Russian troops.

This came less than a week after Rogov reported that Ukrainian forces shelled Polohy, Zaporozhye, which killed four civilians and seriously wounded five others.

Ukraine's attacks have escalated in Zaparozhye, alongside the neighboring regions of Kherson, Donetsk People's Republic, and Lugansk People's Republic, which have seen an uptick in violence from Ukraine since their accession into Russia in September.